MISO’s Community Service Resource Group (CSRG) nearly hit their pre-pandemic goal of 4,321 hours with over 4,200 hours of service logged across our regional offices in 2024. What an accomplishment! We couldn’t have reached this goal without the countless employees who volunteer throughout the year.
The CSRG partners with organizations on service events ranging from packing meals to sponsoring a family in need for the holidays. MISO’s paid community service time allows employees to come together to volunteer and make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.
CSRG chair Tracy Toumi shares, “Volunteering can look like a lot of different things—it can be donating blood, helping at your kids’ book fair, serving meals to the food insecure, ushering at your local theater, or helping host a charity event for some of the bigger non-profits. However and wherever you show up, you are helping to build a stronger community through the gift of your time and talents and that is what MISO’s CSRG mission is all about—bringing MISO employees together to serve the communities where we work through leadership and volunteering. “
Our Rock Stars
Every year, we recognize our top volunteers. These employees each performed and logged at least 48 hours of community service, using all their allotted paid volunteer time. Most of them served more hours on evenings and weekends. We extend a congratulations and sincere thank you to our top volunteers for demonstrating their commitment to improving our communities.
Julie Arteaga, Mark Burtnett, Christine Ding, Mark Enderle, Mickey Headds, Kandi Hughes, Karen King, Nathan Kirk, Nathanael Martin-Nelson, Mike Mattox, Jeremy McDaniel, Nick Przybilla, Cindy Roberts, Erica Romac, Jennifer Ross, Jason Rowland, Becca Skalko and Howard Smith.
Connect with Your Passion through Volunteering
We all have different interests and causes that we feel compelled to support. Having the flexibility and support from MISO allows employees to use their time and talents to contribute in ways that are personally fulfilling.
Kandi Hughes in MISO’s Little Rock office uses her skills as an attorney to support the community. “I contribute to causes that deeply matter to me—empowering women, advocating for equity and inclusion, fostering education, and supporting community development. Each of these groups provides a unique platform for me to give back to the communities that have shaped me while leveraging my skills and experiences to drive meaningful impact.”
In Carmel, Jeremy McDaniel focuses on youth development. “I think it’s important to give Hamilton and Madison County kids an outlet for teamwork, growth, and physical activity that will make them well-rounded, healthy, and productive members of our future society… building tomorrow’s leaders. My daughter and her peers deserve that.”
See the Bigger Picture of Community
“The world is a small place, and we need to dedicate time and resources towards helping others, and it is easiest and most fulfilling to do so locally to see and appreciate the impacts,” said Nick Przybilla from MISO’s Eagan office. He enjoys volunteering at food pantries and recently added serving on the Board of Directors for his alma mater, a K-12 Montessori charter school called Great River School in Saint Paul.
Join Us in 2025
We have our sights set on exceeding our service hours in 2025. Gather your colleagues and join in the fun! There are countless organizations that could use an extra set of hands. Finding what speaks to you results in a rewarding experience, creates a lasting connection and builds a stronger sense of community.